Designed as an interceptor, when the Bell P-39 Airacobra appeared in 1941 it was acclaimed as one of the most advanced combat planes of all time. Elegantly designed and innovatively engineered (it featured the engine mid-aircraft like a racing car), it experienced mixed operational fortunes but was especially successful in the Soviet air force. This book is a full technical history of this important but neglected fighter of World War Two. It presents scale plans of all versions, many detailed photographs of surviving aircraft, full colour illustrations of the aircraft in the different liveries of its many users: USA, RAF, Soviet, French, Italian and others. * Rarely documented aspect of World War Two aviation history. * Superb colour illustrations of camouflage and markings, walkaround colour photographs and rare b+w archive photographs. * Essential reading for aviation enthusiasts & scale aero-modellers.
More than 50 colour profiles.

An Airacobra walk around, with lots of extra's, 29 May, 2003
Reviewer: dirk_p_broer from LEIDEN, ZH Netherlands
This is my latest addition to my Airacobra collection (to be precise my 11th title), and I am very impressed with the book, which is almost as good as this publisher's Gloster Gladiator issue. The book can be used as a 'Walk around' because it offers a wealth of detail coulour photographs in it's second section, but anyone wishing a quick introduction into the various Airacobra variants can be very pleased with the information given in part one. New for me was the detailed list of improvements made by the Russians when using this plane. The third and last part of the book is aimed at the moddeler, giving a lot of colour profiles, including a Polish Airacobra. There is also a good bibliography section between the detail photographs and the colour profiles, which names amongst others three titles which can not be found on my 'listmania' list about this plane, being in Russian and in Polish. Compared to 'P-39 Airacobra in detail and Scale' and 'Airacobra in Action', two books more or less comparable to this one, this book is the better one. Highly recommended.

Hyperscale.com  2011-07-02

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly
Mushroom Model Publications (MMP) is a UK based company that has been around since 1996. Most modellers would be familiar with their work through their quarterly modelling magazine “Mushroom Model Magazine”. The reputation of good quality and content that this magazine has built up was taken one step further when MMP expanded their operations into publishing books.
The Bell P-39 Airacobra is one of MMP’s newest releases in their Yellow Series and quite a comprehensive book it is. The text is sensibly laid out and easy to follow. Following an overview of the Airacobra’s development and operational use, it covers each and every version of the P-39 from the experimental YP-39 to the last of the line the P-39Q. Also included (where appropriate) in each of the models is a description of individual production blocks as well as a list of what serials belonged to what production block. Line drawings in 1/72 scale illustrate each of the sub-types.
The book is liberally illustrated. Some of the period photos are a little blurry but where they have been used it seems they have only been included to illustrate a little known aspect of the Airacobra. An example of this is a photo of the rear fuselage of the P-19 camera installation in the rear fuselage of a 71st Tactical Reconnaissance P-39Q-5.
Following the description of each type there are 46 pages bearing colour photographs of several different P-39s in a “walk around” type format that cover each part of the airframe. One of the aircraft is a Russian P-39Q that is preserved in a Finnish museum. The beauty of this machine is that it is unrestored and in totally original condition, hence it carries authentic colours and stencil data – a real boon if you are a stickler for detail.
The final 12 pages are devoted colour profiles of P-39s (two to a page) bearing the colours and markings of the various services that operated them.
Soviet use of the P-39 is recognised throughout the book and the re is a four-page section listing Soviet P-39 aces.
The book has been printed in Poland. It is B5 in size-240x165 mm (the same size as the Osprey Aircraft of the Aces series) and comprises 128 pages printed on good quality glossy paper between cardboard covers.
A good book and value for money. If you are contemplating building one of the Eduard or Monogram kits you will find it invaluable.
Recommended.

IPMS USA Website  2011-07-02

This is the latest book from Mushroom Model Publications in their Yellow
series and covers the Bell P-39 Airacobra. It is 6? by 9? printed on high
quality glossy paper with laminated card covers. This is basically a photo
gallery book with text limited to the introduction and short descriptions of
each version produced by Bell Aircraft Corporation of the P-39 with a
picture or two along with a side plan up to and including the Russian
conversion of the P-39 to a TP-39UTI. On page 4 there is a very
comprehensive flow chart of all versions made or planed for. There are 30
B&W pictures taken during World War II although a couple are a little fuzzy.
There are 150 very good color photos of P-39s in museums and of a P-39N
being restored with a lot of open panels. Next there are 24 very nice side
profiles and one plan view by Arthur Juszczak.
As Russia was the largest user of the P-39 there is a complete 4 page
listing of the Russian aces of World War II with serial numbers of the
aircraft they flew and tactical marking of some. There is also a section on
the Soviet "improvements" and operating instructions which I found quite
interesting.
If you have the Eduard kit of the P-39 or even the old Monogram kit and
are planning on opening it up and "super" detailing it this is a must have
for the color pictures give you just about every thing you could ask for.
Special thanks to Mushroom Model Publications, IPMS/USA, and John Noack
for the review sample.
John R. Lee #11172

Internet Modeler  2011-07-02

Reviewed by Ray Mehlberger
Latest release from Mushroom Model Magazine is this book on the U.S. Bell P-39 Airacobra.
This book covers the innovative, but not wholly successful P-39. Technical details, photos and plans (the plans in 1/72nd scale drawings) are included of all main versions. There are 56 pages of full-color photos of surviving airframes. Most of these photos are of the walk-around type, showing every part of the plane's anatomy. One aircraft is a P-39Q in a Finnish Museum and the second one is a P-39N that is being restored. However, we are not told where the pictures of the P-39N were taken. These shots include numerous pictures of the cockpit interiors too.
There are 24 pages of color side profiles of USAAF, RAF, Soviet, French and Polish P-39s. A full list of Soviet P-39 aces, and details of Soviet modifications to the P-39, are published for the first time in English.
P-39 versions that are covered in this book are: YP-39, P-39C, P-39D, P-39D-1, P-39D-W, XP-39E, P-39F, P-39J, P-39G/H, P-39K, P-39L, P-39M, P-39Q, P-400 (British version)
The only omissions I could find in the book were the P-63 KingCobra and the one known as the Flying Pin-ball machine. This second one was used for air gunnery practice and was used as a target for frangible ammunition, which would disintegrate when it hit this P-39 version and make several lights on it flash.
Details of the aircraft's fuselages, cockpits, wings, engines, tails, undercarriages, and armament are fully covered.
The book is purely about the development and design of the P-39. There is very, very little in it about it combat history. However, for a reference book about the differences and details of the various types of P-39s, this book is invaluable to historians and model builders, and aviation enthusiasts.
Mushroom Model Publications announces that their next book will be on the Mitsubishi A6M Claude.
Highly recommended.

Modeling Madness  2011-07-02

Reviewed by Scott Van Aken
I don't know about you, but I really like this series of books. It combines an authorative account of the differences between the variants and an excellent 'walk around' format using museum aircraft and those undergoing restoration to show the salient features of the aircraft.
This one is no different and in fact, they seem to get better with each edition. An interesting inclusion with this edition, is a flow chart at the beginning that shows how each variant and subvariant was produced from a preceding aircraft. You'd think that it would be a straight procession from one to the other but that is not at all the case. Most of the variants are in their own section and are accompanied by drawings in 1/72 scale. Now I'm not much of a plans person, but there are lots of readers out there who are and they will find these most useful.
In addition to the usual facts, figures, and serial number/production list, there is a very useful chart of Soviet aces. Many of these folks flew the P-39 and were quite successful with it. The heavy armament was much appreciated by Soviet pilots and the aircraft was a super low level fighter, where most of the air action took place over the Russian Front.
Next, there are several large sections of detail photos of various P-39s undergoing restoration or in Museums. A most useful portion of the book for those who want to make sure that the bits on their model are accurate. An especially interesting plane in this collection is a Finnish P-39 that is displayed complete and totally unrestored so one can see the original colors of the landing gear, cockpit and other normally unphotographed areas.
Finally, 28 pages of excellent profiles. Just the kind of thing to inspire the modeler!
Another excellent book from Mushroom Models Publications. If you have an interest in the P-39 or want a single good reference on the type for modeling, then this is it.

Newsletter of the Austin Scale Modelers Society  2011-07-02

Mushroom Model Magazine Special
Bell P-39 Airacobra, No 6106
by Milton Bell IPMS 16702
Don’t ask me why it’s called Mushroom Model Magazine. I don’t know. What I do know is that I wasn’t impressed by the magazine, but these new specials— I have three of them—are very nice indeed. The latest one I’ve picked up is on the Bell P-39, one of my favorite airplanes from WWII. This little book, 6.5 x 9.5 inches, has 128 pages between its soft covers and lots of very good detail information for modelers. All the detail photos are in good color and there are plenty of line drawings, well done and labeled. In addition, and what is common to the series, are several pages of colorful profiles for just about every country that operated the Airacobra. The price on these publications is $19.95 and in today’s market, I think that’s reasonable for the quality you get. Mushroom Model Publications come from Poland but unlike some other European publications, these are all in English. The authors, Artur Juszczak and Robert Peczkowski, have provided a brief but concise history of the P-39 and have even included a “development map” or chart showing how all the types are related and their development sequence. Line draw-ings in 1/72 are provided for all the various types, from the XP-39 and C to Q. Since the Soviet air force flew the aircraft as a tank buster and low level interceptor with considerable success, there is natu-rally a lot of attention paid the Russian pilots, including a list of Russian aces. Color photos are of restored K, N, and Q models, many of them in Russian markings. Unfortunately, the location of these aircraft are not given. (I couldn’t identify the one flown by the CenTex Wing of CAF at San Marcos.) Also available in this series is a very nice book on the Mitsubishi A5M Claude. Again it’s filled with profiles but no color photos. There are however, plenty of B&W photos and line drawings. Also available is a the most detailed reference I’ve seen on the PZL P.11c.
Not yet available but soon to be released is a book on the Spitfire Mk. V. That’s one I’ll definitely want to pick up. I don’t hesitate in recommending any of the series but I especially like the P-39 book. Check ’em out!
The three books I have are in the “yellow series” but an ad for Mushroom shows a “red series” for a title on German Air Projects, 1935-1945, and a “blue series” on Adolf Galland and GC 1/145 in France 1940.